Three new friends invited me to join them for a Brad Wilson concert in downtown Reno, Nevada at the Wingfield Park amphitheater this last Friday. Dinner at a nice restaurant would follow later in the evening (post to follow).

Brad Wilson hails from Central California and belts out some amazing blues rock music. I have not listened to blues music much over my lifetime and I must say this was a really good concert. And it was free! There are concerts being held all summer long here with a wide spectrum of music performers. You can check out his website here.

The weather overhead was a bit dicey due to looming thunderstorms which never came to be and then the sun broke out. Due to the weather I choose not take my big camera bag and telephoto lens and regretted not doing so later.

Since we would be going to dinner Phoenix had to stay home. I gave him a big kiss and took this picture as I headed out the door.

Meeting them for the first time these are my three new friends (and friendship dates for the night) Veronica, Karen and Brandy. Karen isn’t normally a two-fisted drinker…she’s holding mine.

The nicest ladies and I soooo enjoyed their company!

Unless you feel like standing make sure to bring your own lawn chairs at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno…

These two were a riot of fun to watch and they danced up a storm for 90 minutes…

Her name is Jackie and she encouraged me to take photos and to send them off to the two of them later…

I love what women can do with their hair and check Jackie’s out while she was talking with Karen…

There were easily a couple of thousand people in attendance so this is only a partial picture of the crowd…

There were several food stands in the rear of the amphitheater to get any assortment of drinks or snacks you might like…

This guy was like the Obi Wan of the concert…he danced with a feather and a maraca…or he was casting spells. Not sure.

The park is literally right adjacent to the Truckee River. Here this mother in designer jeans is telling her daughter next to the swift moving water, “Honey, if you get swept up in the current, Daddy and I will pick you up 10 miles downstream ok?” Alright, those are my words not hers. *ahem*

There are places everywhere were you can sit and just chill out and enjoy on the Truckee River. I saw people listening to their own music, chatting with a friend or reading a book.

Ahhh, summer love…

January 1st 1997, this point where I’m standing was nearly 15-20 feet underwater with our horrific flood…

This was a father/daughter dance duo that caught the eye of many of us. They are both highly skilled (I talked with them) and absolutely AMAZING!

Up she goes with Dad holding her securely…

All the way inverted…

Almost all the way around now…

A PERFECT landing! They did this several times…gawd, I loved watching the two of them dance so effortlessly and professionally…

Jackie offering a soft kiss good night…

That’s a wrap folks and it was a really good concert for you blues rocker fans! So, if you’re ever in Reno, Nevada during the summer I would highly encourage you to check out one of these music concerts!

Phoenix and I wanted to give a thank you to our friend, Michelle! She, her husband, three wonderful kids and 7 four-legged family members all hail from Connecticut. She is the writer and editor of her blog, A Dish Of Daily Life, and takes absolutely stunning photography. In between her busy work schedule and being a soccer mom she puts up frequent food posts which I absolutely love and look forward to each week. Her husband cooks up amazing meals and if we can ever make it to the East Coast I’m definitely looking them up for a visit and home cooked meal! Thank you so much for all of your support to Phoenix and I, Michelle! Please check out her awesome blog right here!

Mike Vogler

I have been told (many times) that I really need to write a book about my life. The past 50+ years have been an exciting ride, and these days I find myself with a great many passions. However, I feel that this website is a much more personal way with which to share my musings, stories and commentary.

What a great time for all. I’m headed to an outdoor performance of Les Miserables this weekend and plan to do a post on it in early September. I love outdoor performance venues. When I was in NC, I really liked the outdoor drum circle that gathering in Asheville on Saturday nights.

What is interesting is that I can speak in front of an audience but I get uncomfortable in amongst a crowd, Jeri. The openness of the setting allowed to move around and take photos so that worked out well. I hope Les Miserables is as awesome for you as it should be! The outdoor drum circle sounds interesting 🙂

Look me up too! I’m not far from Michelle’s house! I’ve actually been there and it was delicious.
Ok, enough about me.
You totally captured the fun and spirit of the concert! Awesome work! I love the dancers and the kissers and the drinkers and the river dwellers.

Oh, of course, we would be stopping off to see all of you too, Tamara! That would be such a blast for Phoenix and I to meet all of you 🙂 Yes, it was a good time and thank you for huge compliment on my photos…coming from a professional that is an immense compliment! 🙂

It’s been so long since we’ve done anything but pass through Reno on the freeway… I’m sure it has changed dramatically over the past 30+ years, but still those photos of the Truckee running through downtown brought back a lot of memories. 😉

It’s ironic that even though I worked downtown for 2 years of my 27 career so far literally across the river from where I took those pictures. That I was wayyyy out of touch with all the fun activities that were being held all of this time. So, it was like visiting as a tourist for the very first time in 30 years for me too. And I totally thought of you from your San Antonio post about the River Walk. Everything was super clean both around the river and an upcoming post of our walk downtown after dark. The city really has done a nice job for keeping it tidy and safe, Patti 🙂

When we lived in Vermont there were summer concerts on the commons (lawn in front of court house). They varied the music and like your post, all types of people came to enjoy and to entertain others! There is a drawback living in the boonies where the only entertainment is the cows running, jumping and bellowing. Not quite the same!!!

Yes, that was a really bad flood 17 years ago, Beth. I’ve heard folks talk about the downtown concerts and activities around town over the years but I REGRETTABLY tuned all of that out! It was a definite eye opener to one heck of a lot of fun and I will be paying attention and participating going forward, our friend 🙂

Thanks for the shout out! When I was looking at your pictures, I recognized wherever it was you were. I guess things haven’t changed so much since I lived there.
PS. You do know I cook most of the meals, right? Haha. I don’t just take the pics of the food. Although my husband is in charge of anything on the grill…

Hi Michelle and you are welcome! That was the Wingfield Park amphitheater that I mentioned at the beginning of the post 🙂 Yes, I know you cook most of the meals and
I was just giving your husband a nice shout out too. Nice to have a such a dynamic duo of food excellence in the house! 🙂

Not only had I never heard of Brad Wilson but I had never been to a blues concert, granted he sings blues rocks. What’s funny is when my new friend Karen texted me about it and when to meet I thought she typed BRIAN Wilson. And I thought…SWEET!!! The Beach Boys!! LOL 🙂 Have a great week, Rachel! 🙂

What a fun night, and your friends look like they would be super fun company! Haha I love Phoenix’s little face when you left him home, poor little guy! Gillman gives me those sad eyes whenever I go somewhere without him, too!;-)

Despite my trepidation it was a really fun time, Gunmetal 🙂 The girls were totally supportive in letting me do my thing to go walk around and take pictures. That is my comfort zone since I didn’t have my kid with me. Yes, I can do things w/o him but it’s a stretch with me for brand new “blind date” strangers. They are all wonderful new friends and I’m glad I made you laugh! 🙂